Sunday, July 1, 2012

Once again it has been forever since i have updated...i'm no good at keeping up with this thing! There have been some fun changes going on around here. My friend Jessica and I recently decided to rent a house together and we lucked out and found a great one much closer to our jobs! Many have been asking for photos of the new place so this post is for you! Here we go.....
This is our home...(Jessica refers to our house as "pink" i dont like that term haha. We both agree that the color is not our favorite but what can ya do...its a rental and the inside more than makes up for it.) to be honest...even the outside appearance is growing on me!

this is the view as you enter our front door...

To the left is the dining area and kitchen, straight ahead is the living room, to the right is my bedroom, guest bath, and guest bedroom.
Looking back down the hallway to the door...

This is our living room. (please excuse the pack and play in the corner-thats Rugsbys)

we have a few more prints to hang in the living room but they are still a work in progress. I really love the overall look. It is a great space and our furniture really meshes well together. we love it!
Now on to the kitchen....

okay so i apologize for how blurry some these pictures are. I was in a hurry and it was tight getting some of the rooms. this is our Kitchen/Dining room. The table was in my grandparents home and then my parents & I love it!!! (sidenote: when we first saw pics of this house the kitchen had AWFULL wallpaper...luckily the renter before us did some painting, not good paining (you should see our baseboards) but its much better than it was)

This is my bedroom...i love love love all the built ins! At first i was really stressed about how tight my room would be but now that its all finished i really like it. It feels like home!

I think the guest bath came together well. (when we got the keys and i walked in this bathroom was turquoise floor to ceiling...thank goodness for painters!)

This is our guest room. I think it has a lot of charm! It is all set up and ready for company so come on!!!

Finally this is our back yard. We haven't done any work on it yet. We have some cute patio furniture to paint and put back there and we would love to plant some flowers all around the house. All of the trees are great because we are in the shade all day long.

So there it is! (Jessica is in the master bedroom it is off of the living room and the laundry room is connected to her room and the garage)

Friday, February 24, 2012

I have said for a while now that i wanted to take time each month to focus on a group or organization that i am passionate about. A group that is making a difference in our world. This month that organization is The A21 Campaign.

The A21 Campaign is an organization with a mission to Abolish Injustice in the 21st Century. They state that, "27 million is almost impossible to fathom...as long as there is one victim of Human Trafficking that is all the motivation we need."

I agree that this is a hard topic to talk or think about but if we don't we are ignoring it and while we ignore it MILLIONS of lives are being destroyed. PLEASE take a minute to watch this video about the A21 Campaign....Is it hard to hear? YES. Will it break you heart? YES, and it should. Will it give you hope and encouragement to join this fight? YES, I sure hope so!

The Problem:Human trafficking is an organized criminal industry that affects every nation. While the statistics can seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that every number represents the life of a victim. The A21 Campaign has recognized a significant need in the region of Europe, and is committed to combating this injustice through rescuing one life at a time.For more information on the problem click here.

This is another video on the statistics of human trafficking today....

The Solution:

The A21 Campaign is comprised of individuals, organizations, government officials, and people like you who are committed to abolishing injustice in the 21st century. Our goal is four-fold:

Partner with law enforcement, service providers and community members to provide a comprehensive front against trafficking

Get Involved:

We ALL have the ability to make a difference in the world around us! If you are interested in ways you can help end human trafficking please check out the 21 ways to help.

My prayer is that this post did make you uncomfortable, upset, passionate, that it opened your eyes to something that most don't even acknowledge is going on in OUR WORLD. My goal is not to ruin your day but to open your heart to a population that needs our love, prayers, and commitment.

For more information about the A21 Campaign please visit their website.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Okay so i know its been like a month since i have posted last but things have been busy around here. There have been some big changes and i'm very excited about them. I have been in grad school for a year and a half now. I have enjoyed it, i am passionate about what i have been learning, and i have had a plan that i have been sticking to. (grad school, counseling supervision, doctorate degree, counseling practice) There was nothing wrong with the plan...it was a admirable, well thought out plan, BUT it was MY plan...i made it, i decided what i would do and when i would do it and i didn't even think twice to seek God in that decision. I feel like often that is easy to do especially when it is a good thing, we think why wouldn't God want me to pursue this?

This is what i know about my situation... God placed a calling in my life to help those that are hurting, wounded, lonely, who just need someone to talk to. I have a desire to meet with, encourage, and counsel these whether it be women, college, youth, or couples one day...what has changed for me is the format in which i will do that. Instead of it being through means of clinical counseling (meaning a licenses counselor in an counseling practice) i am feeling led to ministry. This is very exciting for me, i currently work at a church that i absolutely love and cant think of a better thing to do with my life that be in ministry. This is also scary for me because in doing so i am leaving behind the plans that I made, the comfort of knowing what is next, where i will be in 10 years. That is something that i had a hard time letting go of and i think that's why God had to make me so uncomfortable in my current situation that i had no other choice than to drop the classes that i was currently in (two weeks into the semester) and step out on faith to follow Him.

On the flip side...I'm excited!! I love the freedom that following and trusting in God brings, it has opened up my horizons to limitless opportunities. I cant wait to see what He has in store for me!! Right now i am strongly relying on my self proclaimed life verse Psalm 46:10 to "Be still & Know...." Being still is not my forte but as the name of my blog reflects its something i'm constantly trying to learn to do more often. I would appreciate your prayers during this time as well as feed back or encouragement. I really am loving this new stage that i have entered into, it really makes all the difference when you stop trying to lead your own life and allow God to lead you!! Keep checking in!! I will be sure to keep you all posted along the way!

Friday, January 6, 2012

I always love it when the new year comes, its a fresh start. You can put the past behind you and start over from scratch if you'd like. That is my plan for this year, more or less. 2011 was a good year for me..it was a rebuilding year after a very hard and emotional 2010. I am thankful for 2011, i grew and learned a lot. I was able to see God providing for me every corner i turned. It was incredible. However, it was not without difficulties of its own. like any year there were times of sadness, despair, confusion but GOD IS GOOD. Through those times he placed incredible friends and family in my life to encourage and guide me. Looking back it truly is incredible to see how the right person comes into your life at the right time to say exactly what you need to hear. Thats how our God works...incredible. I don't know about you but its hard to wrap my mind around that kind of love and attention to detail!

Okay so as for 2012, this is what i would like to see in this year....

*Growth- Growth in my relationship with God, depth in the relationships and friendships that i currently have, growth in my knowledge not only of what im studying but what i should be doing with what im learning.

*Motivation-Motivation to give it my all, to be ready and willing for whatever God is going to place in my life this year. Motivation not only to do what i should be doing but doing so with passion and enthusiasm. To live my day to day life to give glory to The Lord and not just to check another day off the calendar!

*Discipline- Discipline with my time, Bible study, finances, health, relationships, priorities... I want this for my life, i know the freedom that will come with it...i just need to get there. No more excuses!

*Compassion- There are so many things that i am passionate about but for the most part that's where it ends. In my heart i long to do more, to be active, to make a difference. However, i do NOTHING. That changes in 2012! I want to get involved, help make others aware, i want to be the hands and feet of Christ! (I am going to begin to highlight a different cause or organization every month or so. i want others to know and if nothing else be praying for these organizations. Keep your eyes peeled!)

*Love & Acceptance-NO...im not talking about a husband...haha Although, if God provided this year i would be thrilled. I am talking about love and acceptance of myself and others. I don't think im alone when i say that i am defiantly my own worst critic. Im tired of that way of thinking, if i don't love myself how can i expect anyone else to. This year i want to focus on getting to know myself and allowing God to reveal truths to me that have been covered up for WAY to long by lies. I want to become more loving of others, to be more intentional with building relationships and allowing God to work through me while doing so!

I don't know about you but i am excited about 2012! I think it will be a great year! I ask that you keep me accountable on these things... feel free to check in on me, encourage me, call me out if you have to! :) Happy New Year!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Okay so i think its safe to say that i havent been the regular blogger. I am going to try and work on it but i have said that before so no promises. I felt like this would be a great time to fill everyone in on the past year since i wasnt great about blogging on it. hold on to your seats this is going to be a fast trip through 2011.....Here we go!

January 2011

I GOT A JOB!!!!! Not only did i get a job but i have the most incredible job i could imagine. I am the administrative assistant for the Early Childhood Department and i work with the most amazing ladies ever! It has truly been a blessing!!

SNOW!!! lots and lots of snow! This was my first winter in NWA and we had a lot of the white stuff. It was beautiful but i was not a fan of being trapped inside for a week!!!

Spring 2011

I got a new CAR!!!! I had been needing one for a while and my other dad Jerry found me a great deal!!! I was wanting something a little bigger and he found me the perfect ride! I got a Ford Escape! More School!! I am still in school at JBU working SLLOOWWWLLLYY through my Masters in Community Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy. I have never been a big fan of school work but if i have to go somewhere im happy its at JBU!

Summer 2011

My Birthday!!!! Also this summer i took a girls trip with Allie, Liz, Charla, Beth, and Calleen to Memphis for a concert. We went to see............ It was incredible!!! we had so much fun, AJ even came down our aisle and held my hand and sang to me! I felt like a 13 year old starstruck girl all over again!!!

ITS A BOY!!! Also this summer i got a new addition.....his name is Rugsby!!!! He is a Bichon Frise puppy and i adore him!!! I would LOVE to tell you he is still this small but my "little man" is weighing in at over 16lbs these days!! Still as cute as can be!!

Random event of the year!!!! okay so get this....i have a twitter account and shortly after my NKOTBSB experience i was checking it rather often....in fact im not ashamed to say that i started following almost all of them. In August i got a message that i had someone following me.....guess who it was?!?!?!?!maybe you remember him like this..Thats right!!! Joey Lawrence started following me! i still have no idea how this happened i wasnt even following him...i even tweeted about it and got a response!

it was Awesome!!!! We had a blast! It was my first non family vacation and we did it up right! I cant wait to go back!!!

The rest of fall has been wrapped up in Thanksgiving and Christmas and Finals and all of those fun but busy activities. It truly has been a blessed year and i am looking forward to what 2012 has to offer! I hope to keep you better posted this year!! Hang with me!!